Ex-Fleetwood Mac Guitarist Bob Welch dies in apparent suicide

Nashville - ABC News is reporting that former Fleetwood Mac guitarist Bob Welch was found dead at his Nashville home Thursday. He was 66. A police official announced that Welch died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound Thursday afternoon.

According to ABC News, the official said also that Welch had been dealing with some health issues recently. A suicide note was found at the scene. His body was found by his wife, Wendy at around noon, Reuters reports. Born in Los Angeles, Welch joined Fleetwood Mac in 1971, MTV News reports. He played guitar and contributed vocals on five Fleetwood Mac albums which include Future Games, Penguins, Bare Trees, Mystery Of Me, and Heroes Are Hard To Find. Welch wrote the title track to Future Games, ABC News reports. He was a member of Fleetwood Mac from 1971-1974, before Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham joined the group. After leaving Fleetwood Mac, Welch onto enjoy a successful solo career, Reuters reports. Some of his solo hits include "Sentimental Lady" and "Ebony Eyes." In 1976, he formed the British rock group Paris, MTV News reports. Mick Fleetwood, one of the founding members of Fleetwood Mac and Welch's manager during his solo career told Reuters that Welch's suicide was "incredibly out of character." "He was a very very profoundly intelligent human being and always in good humor, which is why this is so unbelievably shocking," he said. "He was a huge part of our history which mostly gets forgotten-mostly his legacy would be his songwriting abilities that he brought to Fleetwood Mac, which will survive all of us," Fleetwood continued. "If you look into our history, you'll see a huge period that was completely ensconced in Bob's work." Stevie Nicks also commented on Welch's death calling it "devastating," CNN reports. "I had many great times with him after Lindsey and I joined Fleetwood Mac," she said. "He was an amazing guitar player. He was funny, sweet and he was smart. I am very sorry for his family and for the family of Fleetwood Mac, so, so sad." Nicks said.